Diners ClubMiles and Millennia credit cards are two of the most popular credit cards from HDFC Bank. The eligibility criteria for these two cards are also almost the same. Given that, HDFC Bank allows only one credit card per customer which one to go for when we have both the options. Here is a detailed comparison of the HDFC Bank Diners ClubMiles vs Millennia credit cards to help you decide.
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Fees and Charges
| Fee Type | Diners ClubMiles | Millennia |
|---|---|---|
| Joining/Renewal Fee | Rs 1000 – Issued LTF with spend conditions in most cases | Rs 1000 – Issued LTF with spend conditions in most cases |
| Welcome Benefit | 1000 Reward Points if the joining fee is paid | 1000 CashPoints if the joining fee is paid |
| Renewal Fee Waiver | Rs 1 Lakh spend in a membership year | Rs 1 Lakh spend in a membership year |
| Renewal Benefit | 1000 Reward Points if the renewal fee is paid | None |
Though the product pages of Millennia and Diners ClubMiles mention a joining/renewal fee, they are issued Lifetime Free in most cases. HDFC Bank is issuing these Lifetime Free currently as well.
Rewards
There is a key difference between Millennia and Diners ClubMiles when it comes to rewards. While Millennia is a cashback credit card, Diners ClubMiles is a reward points credit card.
| Category | Diners ClubMiles | Millennia |
|---|---|---|
| Base Rewards | 4 RP/Rs 150 | 1% CashPoints up to Rs 1000 every calendar month |
| Transactions on Amazon, BookMyShow, Cult.fit, Flipkart, Myntra, Sony LIV, Swiggy, Tata CLiQ, Uber & Zomato | 4 RP/Rs 150 Some merchants are on Smartbuy/Instant Vouchers where Diners ClubMiles also gets 5% cashback. | 5% CashPoints up to Rs 1000 every calendar month |
| Wallet Loads | No Rewards | 1% CashPoints – Same ₹ 1000 cap as base rewards |
| Milestone Rewards | None | Gift vouchers worth Rs 1000 on spends of Rs 1 Lakh in each calendar quarter |
| Return on spends | 1.3% | 3% to 4% |
Millennia is straightforward when it comes to earning rewards. We can earn base rewards with a cap of Rs 2000 across both categories plus another Rs 1000 as milestone rewards. On Millennia:
- We can spend Rs 20000 every month on the 5% cashpoints category before hitting the cap of 1000 cashpoints.
- If we meet the Rs 1 Lakh spend in a calendar quarter, then the Rs 1000 GV is equivalent to another 1% in rewards.
- The overall Return Rate is around 3% to 4% depending on the quantum of spending across the categories.
In contrast, Diners ClubMiles gives a return of 1.3%.
Millennia reward redemption is assumed to be in statement credit.
Diners ClubMiles reward redemption is assumed to be by booking flights/hotels on Smartbuy.
Smartbuy Rewards
Smartbuy rewards are almost the same for both Diners ClubMiles and Millennia with some minor variations.
| Shopping Category | Smartbuy Cashback | Total Cashback for Diners ClubMiles (Smartbuy Cashback plus 4 RP per Rs 150) | Total Cashback for Millennia (Smartbuy Cashback plus 1%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon | 5% | 6.3% | 6% |
| Flipkart | 1% | 2.3% | 6% |
| Instant Vouchers | 5% | 6.3% | 6% |
| MakeMyTrip – Hotels | 10% | 11.3% | 11% |
| Flights/Hotels | 5% | 6.3% | 6% |
| Trains | 5% | 6.3% | 6% |
| Buses | 5% | 6.3% | 6% |
| Imagine (Apple Reseller) | 5% | 6.3% | 6% |
Redemption Options
The redemption options will be the deciding factor for most people making a choice between Diners ClubMiles and Millennia. The miles transfer at 1:1 ratio for reward points is generous for an entry-level card like Diners ClubMiles.
| Redemption Option | Diners ClubMiles (Value of 1 RP) | Millennia (Value of 1 Cashpoint) |
|---|---|---|
| Smartbuy (Flights/Hotels) | 50 paise | 30 paise |
| Airmiles – Intermiles, Singapore Airlines (Krisflyer), Club Vistara | 1 Airmile | Not Available |
| Rewards Catalogue (Including Vouchers) | Up to 35 paise | Not Available |
| Cashback | 20 paise | Rs 1 |
Airport Lounge Access
| Diners ClubMiles | Millennia | |
|---|---|---|
| Lounge Access | 6 complimentary lounge access every year | 8 complimentary lounge access within India every year (2 per quarter) |
Which card is better – Diners ClubMiles vs Millennia?
Millennia is a better rewarding credit card than Diners ClubMiles if we see the reward rate. Diners ClubMiles has one advantage over Millennia – we get to transfer AirMiles at 1:1 ratio. This makes the Diners ClubMiles a better card if we want to play the miles and points game. But, Millennia is a good cashback credit card. So, it boils down to what one prefers – cashback or miles.
The other point to consider is Diners acceptance at PoS. Millennia is generally issued on Visa/Mastercard. If we want to use Diners ClubMiles as our primary card, then we also need to carry another Visa/MC credit card as a backup.
